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The WNBA is made a beeline for Portland, with Oregon’s greatest city getting an extension group that will start play beginning in 2026.
The group will be possessed and worked by Raj Sports, drove by Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal. They paid $125 million for the establishment.
“This is enormous for Portland. We are so respected and lowered to be the vessel that conveys this WNBA establishment to Portland,” Lisa Bhathal said. “Also, that is truly the way in which we view ourselves as. Portland is this extraordinarily assorted, energetic local area. We saw the enthusiasm direct when we began investigating the Portland Thistles and this is B-ball City. So we’re extremely amped up for what’s in store.”
The Bhathals began having discussions with the WNBA before the end of last year after a different bid to carry a group to Portland failed to work out.
“I think according to our point of view, realizing that the association was keen on coming to Portland, gave us certainty that seeking after the open door would be generally welcomed by the association,” Alex Bhathal said.
“Extending our impression in Portland and having the option to make a stage zeroed in on ladies’ games in the Portland market and truly having the option to put the traction and to place a stake in the ground in Portland and leave the imprint as the focal point of a worldwide ladies’ game market is something truly convincing and fascinating to us and exceptionally meriting by the local area of Portland.”
It’s the third extension establishment the association will add throughout the following two years, with Brilliant State and Toronto getting the other two. The Brilliant State Valkyries will start play next season and Toronto in 2026.
“It’s good to have the Pacific Northwest sort of secured in now,” WNBA Magistrate Cathy Engelbert said.
Engelbert has said she desires to have more groups by 2028 yet doesn’t feel that the association will add any more that will begin playing before 2027.
